The four leased zero-emission Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses and depot chargers will support KCM’s continued pursuit of its climate goals.
New Flyer
2 min to read
The four leased zero-emission Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses and depot chargers will support KCM’s continued pursuit of its climate goals.
New Flyer
New Flyer of America Inc. congratulated Seattle’s King County Metro (KCM) on the official unveiling and launch of its electric bus test and evaluation program utilizing four Xcelsior CHARGE™ battery-electric, heavy-duty transit buses (two 40-foot and two 60-foot).
KCM made a firm commitment to further reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the greater Seattle area, and to reach full zero-emission fleet status as soon as 2034 and no later than 2040. The four leased zero-emission Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses and depot chargers will support KCM’s continued pursuit of its climate goals, and will further its transition to a fully zero-emission vehicle fleet energized by renewable energy.
Ad Loading...
“King County Metro is accelerating the transition to a clean-energy future, not only in the greater Seattle area but across North America with a low and no-emission fleet,” said Rob Gannon, KCM’s GM. “We are proud to introduce battery-electric buses to the public and to continue partnering with New Flyer on clean, connected transit solutions.”
King County Executive Dow Constantine has set a goal to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions by preparing KCM to increase transit service through 2020 with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, a goal that should double transit use in Seattle by 2040. This goal builds on an extensive track record of KCM’s evolution to low and no-emission buses: in 2002, KCM was the first to adopt New Flyer’s 60-foot diesel-electric hybrid transit bus, and since then has introduced 1,332 hybrid-electric buses to its fleet. Nearly 90% of KCM's fleet has been updated to include either all-electric or hybrid-electric vehicles.
A major goal of the pilot, which begins in April, is to test the speed, functionality, and durability of new handheld devices to scan Ventra and paper tickets.
Traditionally, bus lane enforcement has relied on manual processes carried out by transit police or parking enforcement officers. While it may be effective in certain municipalities, this approach is resource-intensive and very difficult to sustain.
A phased approach to technology, in-house capabilities, and workforce investment is helping transportation leaders break the reactive cycle and build more resilient, revenue-focused operations.
The landmark event empowers riders across six agencies in the Puget Sound region to tap-and-ride transit using a contactless credit or debit card or a mobile wallet.
Now in its latest edition, the awards recognize forward-thinking solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, rider experience, and overall system performance.
Menard discusses how data-driven signal prioritization is improving efficiency, reliability, and ridership, while offering insight into the innovations driving the next generation of smart mobility. Together, they explore how technology and collaboration are paving the way for a more connected, sustainable future in transit.
The pilot program showcases two companies’ technology at eight bus stops. The companies submitted their ideas through the Transit Tech Lab, which is backed by the Partnership Fund for New York City and provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.
